28 



ful : hence it is difficult to capture, and even when taken will often flutter with such foree as 

 to seriously damage the covering and structure of its beautiful wings. When its wings are 

 fully spread they measure from three to three-and-a-half inches across, (see Fig. 27, after 

 Riley). The ground colour is a rich greenish olive. On the fore wings there is a pale band 

 about the middle, extending from near the base to the tip, and along the outer margin 

 runs another band nearly equal in width, but darker and less distinct; the veins also are 

 lined with white. The hind wings which are small, are nearly covered by a wide central 

 rosy band, becoming paler as it approaches the body, the hinder edge is fringed with white. 

 On the anterior portion of the body there are six longitudinal stripes or lines, while the hind- 

 er part is alternately spotted with white and black. The entire under surface is much paler 

 and duller in colour than the upper. 



"The larva," Mr. Riley says, " feeds upon purslane, turnip, buckwheat, water melon, 

 and even apple and grape leaves, upon any of which it may be found in the month of July. 

 It descends into the ground, and within a smooth cavity, changes into a light brown chrysalis, 

 from which the moth emerges during the month of September." 



" The most common form of the larva is that given at Fig. 28. Its colour is yellowish 

 green, with a prominent subdorsal row of elliptical spots, each spot consisting of two curved 



Fig. 28. 



black lines, enclosing superiorly a bright crimson space, and inferiorly a pale yellow line — 

 the whole row of spots connected by a pale yellow stripe, edged above with black. In some 

 specimens these eyelike spots are disconnected, and the space between the black crescentsis 

 of a uniform cream colour. The breathing holes are either surrounded with black or with 

 black edged with yellow. The other form is black, and characterized chiefly by a yellow 

 line along the back, and a series of pale yellow spots and darker yellow dots, as represented 



in the illustration Fig. 29, even this dark form is subject to great variation, some specimens 

 entirely lacking the line along the back, and having tlie spots of different shape." 



" This insect has a wide range, as it occurs in the West Indies, Mexico and Canada, aa 

 well as throughout the United States. Feeding as it does, principally on planis of but little 

 value, and being very commonly attacked by the larvae of a Tachina fly, this insect has never 

 become sufiiciently common to be classed as injurious." 



